Apr 25, 2016 | By Tess

If you have a knack for 3D design and an eye for the exquisite you may have already considered getting into the 3D printed jewelry market, which offers its clients not only a wide range of design options, but also the much in demand luxury of customization. In fact, 3D printed jewelry design was number one on our list of 3D printing business ideas for talented individuals or entrepreneurial teams looking to break into the 3D printing industry. If you are an aspiring 3D printed jewelry designer or have recently started your own 3D printed jewelry startup, 3D printer company Formlabs has some tips for you, which were recently published on their website.

The guide published by Formlabs lays out some very useful tips on how to make your custom jewelry design company stand out from others, as well as how to make your customer’s experience as positive as possible, after all client relationships and experiences are the key to running a profitable business.

The first step in the guide is centered around establishing your client’s expectations in terms of time frame, cost, and reasons for creating a custom piece. Though this goes without saying, people who are looking to create a piece of custom designed jewelry are often doing so for very personal and even intimate reasons, so knowing these can help in the design conception. With those key pieces of information established, it is then suggested to make the jewelry design process as clear as possible to the client, explaining each step in the process and letting them know where they will be able to participate and contribute more.

Of course, it is also essential to figure out what material and style is wanted for the piece of jewelry, so showing some examples of finished pieces can begin to give an indication of what direction the client wants to go in for their own design. Once this has been discussed, precise sizing should be the next step.

With the client’s order placed, the guide suggests to then gather the requested materials, including any gemstones that the client may want, and to offer them a selection of stones, “allowing for at least 1 ‘reach’ option for the budget”. Of course, if you are working with precious stones it will be imperative to get a deposit for them. At this point, the salesperson who has been dealing with the client directly should make and appointment and consult with the designer.

The next step in the customer process is the design meeting, during which the client, salesperson and designer meet to discuss the custom piece of jewelry’s design details. For the designer, this would be the opportunity to make some preliminary sketches or CAD images to show the client, and for the salesperson it would be the time to establish “full confidence” in the piece’s final design. Also, the guide explains to discuss such options as engraving or other customizable preferences.

After the designer consultation is the prototype meeting, during which the client should be presented with a 3D printed resin prototype of the piece, which they can try on. Importantly, and to ensure the best customer experience, Formlabs suggests to treat the plastic prototype with as much care as the final product. With the resin prototype it will be possible to get information on any adjustments or changes that the client wants, whether in terms of size, detailing or style. If all goes well, the salesperson and designer should be able to finalize the timeline of the piece, and take the deposit for the custom jewelry from the client.

With the design finalized, the designer can proceed to 3D print the piece of jewelry in a castable resin, which can then be cast in the metal of the client’s choice, whether in house or through a service (depending on the scale or structure of your company). Final touches, such as polishing or inserting stones can then be done by hand, like with any piece of fine jewelry.

Presentation of the piece of finished jewelry is of course crucial, as that is the final touch that will ensure the client that their piece is a valuable and unique piece of jewelry. For the presentation, which should be regarded as a ceremony of sorts, Formlabs suggest having both the designer and gemcutter present. The size should be checked and the instructions for maintaining the jewelry should be clearly explained, and if applicable, present any appraisals or certifications for the piece of jewelry. Finally, be sure to keep in contact with your client to make sure they are satisfied with the design and to offer them a complementary polishing or cleaning service down the line. You should also ask whether the design can be shared via social media or on your company’s website to further showcase your company’s design and manufacturing skills.

The guide to making and selling custom jewelry concludes by emphasizing the importance of transparency and the cruciality of building trust with your client. The latter includes a close attention to detail throughout the entire process, and offering the highest level of service possible.

 

 

Posted in 3D Printing Application

 

 

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